Bocker



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

JXB. KNIOKERBOGKER. AUTOMATIC PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 427,516. Patented'May 6, 1890;

I WIVES??? (No Model.) 2 sheet -sheet 2. v

J. B. KNIGKERBOOKER. AUTOMATIC PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 427,516. Patented May 6, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES B. KNICKERBOCKER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KNIOKERBOOKER GAS REGULATOR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC PRESSURE-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,516, dated May 6, 1890.

, Application filed October 28, 1889. Serial No. 328,431. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: ks are the raised seats, which afford bear- Be it known that I, JAMES B. KNICKER- lugs for the valve, the valve-stem passing ROCKER, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, through the shell in the manner shown in and State of Indiana, have invented certain Fig. 3. To the upper end of this stem is con- 55 new and useful Improvements in Automatic neeted a lever Z secured in place bya nut on Pressure-Regulators; andI do hereby declare the threaded end of the valve-stem at 5. A

that the following is a full, clear, and exact boss is formed on the lower end of the valve, description thereof, reference being had to against which the end of ascrews abuts, and r the accompanying drawings, in which like about this screw-bolt and the boss is coiled a 60 letters refer to like parts. spring sp, whose tension holds the valve in My invention relates to the construction of its seat and makes it take up its own wear. automatic regulators for gas,water, or steam, The set-screw s aids in this but is only inand will be understood from the following detended to be added for use in case of well or scription. other unusual pressure. 65

I 5 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, the c is a cap, which. closes the valve-chamber, diaphragm and its connections being in secand when screwed down in its place atension tion. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the is brought upon the spring 31), and the valve valve,valve-ehambeiyand the connected pipes. is held firmly in its seat and prevented from Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the any downward movement, making its bear- 7o valve-chamber and pipes, showing the coning snug at all times. The lever Z is construction of the valve and the openings which neeted at 5 to the valve-stem, as shown in admit the gas into the diaphragm. Fig. 4 is Fig. 1 and its other end is pivoted at 4 to a a top view of Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a bottom end nut n, which works upon the threaded end View of the same. Fig. 6 is a side view of of a connecting-rod or, which is in turn piv- 75 2 5 the valve, showing the outlet-openings. Fig. oted at 3 to the curved lever Z, which is fur- 7 is an end View of the cap 0, which closes the ther pivoted at 1 to an upright 14, secured to valve-chamber. In Fig. 2 the position of the the diaphragm-case. The lever Z is also cenvalve and inlet and outlet pipes is reversed trally pivoted at 2 to the stem of the diaas compared with Fig. 1. phragxn. 8o

In detail 1' is the inlet-pipe,whichis screwed 71 is a hood, which is mounted on the diainto the flange j, which abuts against a simiphragm-stem and covers the boss formed on lar flange f, formed on the body of the reguthe upper half of the diaphragm-frame cZf, later, the flanges being united by bolts, as through which the stem st passes, and its obshown in Fig. 1. WVithin the chamber surject is to protect the diaphragm from dirt or 85 rounding the valve is a semicircular plate p, water. The diaphragm itself consists of a which divides the inflowing current of gas sheet of rubber or other suitable material g, into two substantially equal volumes or parts, secured between 'the two halves of the diaand these pass around in the direction indiphragm-case, carrying a metal disk (Z upon cated by the arrows and through the inletits top, the disk and sheetheld togetherfirmly 90 0 ports p0 p0 into the valve 713. between a flange formed on the diaphragm- Z)?" is a cross-brace for connecting and stem st and a nut which works on the stem strengthening the valve Walls, which are above the metal disk (Z. This disk provides formed in the shape shown in Fig. 6, tapera firm backing for the rubber sheet g over ing slightly and having openings on opposite nearly its entire area, and as the valve will 95 sides to permit the passage of the gas, the continue its rotary movement even after the outlet-openings being much larger than the pressure is cut off the diaphragm will rise inlet-openings, which are also opposite each until the metal disk (Z strikes the top of the other, as shown in Fig. 2. diaphrag1n-case and all rupture by undue eX- 0 is the outlet-pipe, which is connected to pansion of the rubber sheet is thus pre- 10c the regulator-body in the same manner as the vented.

inlet-pipe heretofore described. 0 0 are openings through the diaphragmcase from below, through which the gas passes up into the diaphragm-chamber. Then the valve is closed, the edges of the inlet-ports pass very slightly beyond the bearing of the valve-seats-sufficiently, however, to make a tight joint; and in case these edges should wear away, by turning the nut n and raising that end of the lever Z it is obvious that the valve is slight-1y rotated so as to make an increase in the lap of the valve upon the valveseats,thus remedying the difficulty occasioned by the wearing away at theedges.

The gas being admitted into the diaphragmchamber from below, and pressure being simply on the under side thereof, it is readily seen that all water and other moisture carried into the diaphragm-chamber will drain away by gravity, leaving the diaphragm dry and free from rust or corrosion, preventing any moisture from collecting thereon and freezing therein, affecting its operation. This arrangement I believe to be peculiar to my diaphragm, and it is an important one.

My device operates as follows: The gas passing into the inlet is divided by the plate- 9 into equal parts, and enters through the ports 190 190' into the interior of the valve 7c, and thence out through the larger openings of the valve in the direction of the arrows and through theoutlet 0p and also up through the passage 77. into the diaphragm, so that the pressure upon the diaphragm is equivalent to that in the chamber between the valve and outlet-pipe. The gas entering into the diaphragm-chamber from below presses on the under side of the diaphragm and tends to lift it, and as it rises it carries the stem st up with it, and this bears against the lever Z and tends to raise its outer end. This lever is also pivoted at 1 to the upright u, and, eurving around, passes back, and on its outer end is a counter-weight. WVhen, therefore, the pressure of the gas exceeds that of the weight, which may be adjusted on the lever Z to carry any pressure desired, this weighted lever will rise, and through the connecting-rod or will operate the lever Z and turn the valve, partially closing it, cutting off the gas, and will continue to do this until the pressure of the weight balances or exceeds that of the gas, when a contrary movement opens the valve, and gas will be let into the valve from the inlet-pipe, which is the high-pressure side of the regulator. When the gaspressure becomes less than the weight, the contrary movement takes place, the weight falls, and the valve is gradually opened, according to the demand on the outlet side. This action of the machine is therefore entirely automatic, and whatever be the pressure from the main pipe the pressure on the other or low-pressure side of the regulator will'never exceed that of the weight w at whatever point this is set upon the lever Z.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the parts are shown in proper position when the valve is ,wide open, and if the pressure from the inlet side shall cease-entirely the weight will drop and completely close the valve, (the diaphragm becoming entirely inactive,) but in an opposite direction from that in which it is closed when the machine is in operation,and when thus closed by the failure of pressure the valve must be opened again by raising the lever by hand if its immediate operation is desired.

The advantages of my device may be summed up as follows:

First. Only such parts of the valve are used as are necessary to do the work required, and the friction is thereby greatly reduced, which is a very important point with valves of this kind, while at the same time such parts are retained in use as to make ever part perfectly tight without the aid of i any packing whatever.

Second. In case any dirt or other matter should pass through the regulator it will accumulate inside the valve and can do no injury, inasmuch as it cannot be deposited upon the valve-seats, these being entirely protected, for the valve never leaves its seat, but rotates back and forth, being held in position by the strong spiral spring and set-screw, giving it at all times an even tension and making it self-adj usting to all wear.

Third. Another advantage is the peculiar shape of the body of the machine, which, while simple in construction, yet secures the benefit of a large area or space of gas from the inlet side, which is found to be necessary in case of a sudden fall in the pressure from the source of supply, and by admitting this pressure into the valve from two directly-opposite sides and in currents of equal pressure and volume all friction upon the valve is prevented from that source, making ita perfect balance and producing a regulator that will deliver exactly the same pressure on the outlet side of'the machine, whether it is a pressure of one or five hundred pounds on the inlet side.

Fourth. The valve-seats are raised, making the bearing of the valve thereon simple, and this enables the valve to fit more closely and work with greatly reduced friction, and there is little or no possibility of the parts suffering from corrosion or gumming.

Fifth. The connection of the valve to the diaphragm by which the former is operated is made on the outside of the machine, and these connections are adjustable, so that by the use of the thumb-nut the valve can be reset from the outside even while in operation and can even be entirely replaced in case of wear with little trouble. By the use of the curved lever upon the top of the regulator the weight can be adjusted more accurately to the number of pounds or ounces of pressure required.

Sixth. It is well known that gas freezes only in its expansion, and as the expansion in my device takes place upon the inside of the valve it cannot therefore affect the movement of the valve in its seat or interfere with the IIO working of the machine, as in the case of ordinary valves, where the freezing of the gas will tend to fasten the valve to its seat.

Seventh. The diaphragm-case is so constructed that the diaphragm itselfcannot be sprung or ruptured, as both the rubber sheet and the metal backing,of which the diaphragm is composed, rest firmly against the solid surface of the top of the case when the machine is closed, and the gas, being admitted to the diaphragm-chamber through the small openings, cannot wear or affect the diaphragm it self.

Eighth. The construction of the regulator is such that the valve shuts off tight, and it will remain so, thus avoiding the waste of gas so common with other devices.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. In a pressure-regulator, a hollow conical valve having narrow ports on the inlet side set opposite each other across the diameter and wider openings on the outlet side, such valve having bearings upon narrow raised seats formed upon the wall of the valvechamber, substantially as shown and described.

2. An automatic prcssure-regulator comprising a valve-chamber having inlet and out let connections, a hollow conical valve seated therein upon raised bearings, and a circular deflecting-plate located therein adjacent to the mouth of the inletpipe for dividing the current from the source of supply into two equal parts, substantially as shown and described.

3. An automatic pressure-regulator comprising a valve-chamber, inlet and outlet connection s, a conical hollow valve seated therein upon raised bearing-seats, such valve having narrow inlet-ports and wider outlet-ports, a diaphragm-case connected to the outlet side of the valve-chamber, openings for admitting the gas from such valve-chamber into the diaphragiii-chamber, a diaphragm composed of a thin sheet of flexible material with a metal backin g covering its greater area carried upon a stem, and a lever mechanism pivoted at the top of such stem and carrying a countor-weight at one end, the other end of such lever connected to a secondary lever mounted upon the valve-stem, whereby the valve-action is controlled by the degree of pressure upon the diaphragm, substantially as shown and described.

4. An automatic pressure-regulator comprising a valve-chamber with suitable inlet and outlet connections, a conical hollow valve having inlet and outlet ports seated therein upon narrow raised bearings for reducing the friction, a deflecting-plate located adjacent to the mouth of the inlet and adapted to divide the current of the inflowing gas into two substantially equal volumes for admission into the interior of the valve through its inletports, an automatic controlling mechanism connected to the valve-chamber on the outlet side composed of a diaphragm-chamber, a

diaphragm inclosed therein to which the gas is admitted directly from below through small openings, a lever, and weight mechanism connected to the stem, upon which the diaphragm is carried, whereby the pressure of the gas upon the diaphragm is adapted to be equalized by the action of the weight, substantially as shown and described.

5. An automatic pressure-regulator comprising a hollow conical valve having inlet and outlet ports seated upon narrow bearings in the valve-chamber and having the usual inlet and outlet pipe connections, a deflectingplate located adjacent to the inletmouth, whereby the inflowing gas is divided into two substantially equal volumes and admitted into the valve in opposing currents, and a diaphragm connected with the val vechamber on the outlet side, such diaphragm carried upon a stem which is in turn pivoted to a lever carrying a counter-weight whose rise and fall is adapted to counteract the pressure of the gas upon the diaphragm and control the valveaction, substantially as shown and described.

' 6. In a p ressure-regulator, a valve-ch amber, a conical hollow valve seated upon raised seats formed therein, and a lever connected at one end to the projecting end of the valve-stem and pivoted at its other to a nut which works upon the threaded end of a connecting-rod, whereby the valve may be adjusted in its seat, so as to increase the lap thereof in case of wear, substantially as shown and described.

7. An automatic pressure-regulator comprising a valve-chamber having inlet and outlet connections, and a hollow conical valve seated therein having narrow inletports located at opposite sides of its diameter with respect to each other and wider outlet-ports, such valve held in its seatby the pressure of a coiled spring operating against the larger end of the valve and the inside of the cap that closes the valve-chamber, all combined substantially as shown and described.

8. An automatic pressure regulator comprising a valvechamber having inlet and outlet pipe connections, a conical hollow valve having bearings upon narrow raised seats of corresponding shape and provided with narrow inlet and wider outlet ports, such valve held to its seat by the pressure of a spring between the cap of the valve-chamber and the larger end of the valve, and a lever connected to the valve-stem at one end and pivoted at the other to a nut adjustable upon a rod connected with a lever carrying a counterweight, whereby the valve may be slightly rotated in its seat, so as to increase the width of its bearings in case of wear at the edges of the ports, substantially as shown and described.

9. An automatic pressure-regulator comprising a valvehaving suitable inlet and outlet pipe connections, and a conical hollowvalve seated therein and heldnormally in its seat by the pressure of aspring operating against the end of the valve and held between the IIO valve and the valve-chamber, such valve roall combined substantially as shown and delo tatable in its seat, so as to increase the lap in scribed.

case of the Wearing away of the edges of the In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my ports by means of a lever, one end connected hand this 8th day of October, 1889.

to such valve, the other pivoted to a nut 7 Working upon a rod connected to an auxil- JAMEb KNIOKERBOCKER' iary lever carrying a counter-Weight and piv- Witnesses: oted to a diaphragm mechanism connected to C. P. JACOBS, the Valve-chamber 011 the outlet side thereof, E. B. GRIFFITH. 

